The Wandering Disciple

An osprey soars over the north shore of Lake Apopka. Osprey's are known as the fish hawk for their hunting preference. They can be seen soaring over lakes and streams before diving down and clutching a fish in their talons. The osprey is the second most distributed raptor behind the Peregrine Falcon and can be found in temperate climates on all continents except Antarctica. (Photo: December 25, 2019)

Hiding in plain sight, an American Alligator lays along the banks of the marsh. Alligators are masters of disguise and can camouflage themselves, blending in with their surrounding making it easier to stalk their prey or just catch a nap. Catching a nap is what this big gator is doing along the Wildlife Drive on the north shore of Lake Apopka outside Orlando. (Photo: December 25, 2019)

Apopka, Florida: After seeing photos from here on Facebook, we finally pulled the trigger and headed to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive to go find some wildlife.  This place was always well talked about and it did not disappoint.  If you want to see gators, this is the place.  It felt like every 100 yards was another of the prehistoric reptiles.  During our trip this is what we were able to see: American Alligator Anhinga Belted Kingfisher Black-crowned Night Heron Blue-winged Teal Boat-tailed Grackle Cattle Egret Common Gallinule Glossy Ibis Gray-headed Swamphen Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron Killdeer Little Blue Heron Northern Harrier Osprey Palm Warbler Pied-billed Grebe Peninsular Cooter Red-tailed Hawk Red-winged Blackbird River Otter Snowy Egret Turkey Vulture Tricolored Heron White Ibis Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is an 11-mile one-way road on the north shore of Lake Apopka.  It is open weekends and federal holid...